CLT20: As it happened - Brad Hodge, Rahul Shukla power Rajasthan Royals to 4-wicket win

Rajasthan Royals beat Kiwi side Otago Volts in a Group A match of the Champions League Twenty20 to finish as table toppers. Catch all the highlights here: (Scorecard | Commentary)

23:27 (IST): QUOTES -

Rahul Dravid: It got nerve wrecking in the end. It was a fantastic innings from (Brad) Hodge. There is a good environment in the team, they know their roles well. It is about giving the youngsters the confidence they need. When Hodge bats like that down the order, we don't need to change his position. The winning streak is not important but hopefully we can keep it going for one more game. We love to play here as the crowd is always fantastic.

Brendon McCullum: Our top order did not do the job. We came back well with the bat and the ball later on. (Brad) Hodge played a brilliant innings and he took the game away from us. Rahul Shukla surprised us all. He has good pace and he swung the ball. I am proud of the efforts put in by this team.

23:10 (IST): That's it! Brad Hodge finishes things off in style and also scores his 38th T20 fifty. He remains not out on 52 off 23 balls, laced with five fours and 3 sixes. Ajinkya Rahane too scored 52 (48 balls). For Otago, James Neesham picked up three wickets while Neil Wagner took two. Earlier, Man of the Match Rahul Shukla bowled a fiery spell and picked up three wickets - all in one over - to help Rajasthan restrict Otago to a paltry total. With the win, Rajasthan finish on top of Group A and will their semifinal tie at home.

22:53 (IST): WICKET! James Neesham strikes again and this time he removes Ajinkya Rahane for 52. Rahane looks to clear infield, caught at mid off by Neil Broom. Rajasthan Royals 116/5 (17 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

22:44 (IST): FIFTY! Ajinkya Rahane scores his second successive fifty. Rajasthan Royals need to up the ante as required run rate goes over nine. Rajasthan Royals 93/4 (15 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

22:32 (IST): WICKET! Neil Wagner strikes to remove Stuart Binny. Binny chases a widish delivery and gets a thick outside edge to Brendon McCullum at first slip. Rajasthan Royals 72/4 (12.1 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

22:28 (IST): WICKET! James Neesham removes Shane Watson. Watson looks to steer it to third man, gets an outside edge to keeper Derek de Boorder. Rajasthan Royals 71/3 (11.3 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

22:20 (IST): WICKET! James Neesham gets rid of Sanju Samson. Samson looks to play it to the third man but gets an inside edge onto stumps. Rajasthan Royals 67/2 (9.3 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

22:08 (IST): WICKET! Rahul Dravid is out. Dravid chases a widish delivery by Nick Beard to cover point. Nathan McCullum jumps at the right time to take a fantastic catch. Rajasthan Royals 49/1 (6.4 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

22:04 (IST): Otago Volts bowlers have done to bring the run rate down. Rahul Dravid is struggling with the bat. Rajasthan Royals 43/0 (6 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

21:52 (IST): Rajasthan Royals are off to a flying start, courtesy Ajinkya Rahane (20 not out). Rajasthan Royals 31/0 (3 overs) in reply to Otago Volts' 139/7.

21:41 (IST): Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane are out in the middle to chase Otago Volts' 139/7. Ian Butler takes the new ball.

21:33 (IST): Rahul Shukla (3/23), Kevon Cooper (2/33) help Rajasthan Royals restrict Otago Volts to 139/7 in 20 overs. James Neesham top scored with 32 while Nathan McCullum hit 28 not out. Ryan ten Doeschate (26), Ian Butler (25) also played crucial knocks. Pravin Tambe and Shane Watson also got a wicket each.

21:21 (IST): WICKET! Kevon Cooper ends Ian Butler's late charge as he removes the right hander for 25. Partnership between him and Nathan McCullum yielded 33 runs. Otago Volts 120/7 (18.2 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

21:15 (IST): Ian Butler brings Otago's 100 with a huge six over long on. Partnership between him and Nathan McCullum grows to 33. Otago Volts 114/6 (17 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

21:02 (IST): WICKET! Pravin Tambe removes another set batsman - Ryan ten Doeschate for 26. He traps him leg before wicket to pick his first wicket here. Otago Volts 81/6 (13.3 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:57 (IST): WICKET! Kevon Cooper breaks the 53-run stand between Jimmy Neesham and Ryan ten Doeschate. Neesham chases a widish delivery  straight to Shane Watson at long on. Otago Volts 74/5 (12.1 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:55 (IST): Otago fight back through Ryan ten Doeschate and Jimmy Neesham, who have added 53 runs from 46 balls. Otago Volts 74/4 (12 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:45 (IST): Rajasthan Royals bowlers are keeping things very tight. Ryan ten Doeschate and Jimmy Neesham are fighting back slowly and have added 29 runs from 33 balls. Otago Volts 50/4 (10 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:23 (IST): WICKET! Shane Watson joins the party to remove Neil Broom. Broom tries to pull but gets a top edge to backward sqaure leg and Sanju Samson, the wicketkeeper, runs to complete the catch. Otago Volts 21/4 (4.3 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:18 (IST): WICKET, WICKET and WICKET! Yes that's right. Rahul Shukla removes opener Hamish Rutherford, Brendon McCullum and Derek de Boorder in his first over. On his first ball he got bowled Rutherford, then trapped skipper McCullum leg before wicket and bounced out keeper de Boorder on his fifth ball. His first over - W 4B W 0 W 0. Otago Volts 20/3 (4 overs) vs Rajasthan Royals.

20:00 (IST): Two Otago Volts openers Neil Broom and Hamish Rutherford are out in the middle. Rahul Dravid gives the new ball to Ashok Menaria.

19:46 (IST): TEAMS-

Otago Volts: Neil Broom, Hamish Rutherford, Brendon McCullum (captain), Derek de Boorder(wicketkeeper), Ryan ten Doeschate, Jimmy Neesham, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, James McMillan

Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Dravid (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shane Watson, Stuart Binny, Brad Hodge, Ashok Menaria, James Faulkner, Kevon Cooper, Pravin Tambe, Rahul Shukla

19:35 (IST): TOSS! Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid opts to field after winning the toss against Otago Volts in Jaipur.

PREVIEW

Having sealed their place in the semifinals, Rajasthan Royals would look to grab the top spot in the table when they square off against Otago Volts in their final Group match of the Champions League Twenty20 today.

The winner will not only top the group, but also face the second-placed team from Group B in the first semifinal at the same venue. The match will also witness one streak being broken. Otago Volts have won their last 15 Twenty20 matches, while Rajasthan Royals have won 11 straight games in Jaipur from the start of IPL VI.

Stakes are much higher for the Kiwi side as a win would ensure their passage in the last-four stage. They are currently placed second in the group with 10 points from three matches and could knock out IPL champions Mumbai Indians if they win.

The match between the Otago and Mumbai was washed away putting the reigning IPL champions in quandary.

Mumbai, who have six points from three matches will play their last match against Perth Scorchers in Delhi tomorrow. If Otago lose against Rajasthan Royals and Mumabi win, the two sides' fate would depend on Net run-rate.

SQUADS

Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Dravid (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ashok Menaria, Dishant Yagnik (wicketkeeper), Vikramjeet Malik, Harmeet Singh, Rahul Shukla, Pravin Tambe, Shane Watson, Brad Hodge, James Faulkner, Kevon Cooper, Shaun Tait.

Otago Volts: Brendon McCullum (captain), Nick Beard, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Mark Craig, Derek de Boorder (wicketkeeper), Jacob Duffy, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, James Neesham, Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Ryan ten Doeschate, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells.